Echogram detection of skin conditions

ABSTRACT

Technologies adapted for using acoustic pulses to diagnose skin conditions are disclosed. A series of acoustic pulses may be directed at a skin through the speaker of a device. Acoustic reflections may be received at a microphone. The reflections may be sampled and stored as echogram data. The echogram may be analyzed to identify potential skin conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related by subject matter to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/714,011, filed Feb. 26, 2010, entitled “MULTIDIRECTIONALSCAN AND ALGORITHMIC SKIN HEALTH ANALYSIS”, attorney docket numberMTCW001601, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in thissection are not prior art to the claims in this application and are notadmitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Large scale tests performed in 1986 and 1987 demonstrated that it may befeasible to conduct effective large scale visual screening for melanomaand other malignant skin lesions. Howard K. Koh et al., “Evaluation ofmelanoma/skin cancer screening in Massachusetts: Preliminary results,”Cancer 65, no. 2 (1990), pages 375-379. Such screening coulddramatically reduce costs of care and improve life.

Unfortunately, the cost of routine screening by dermatologists isprohibitive. To this day the majority (about 90%) of health systems payonly for screening by a “gatekeeper”, generally a patient's primary carephysician. C. M. Barnard and M. E. Goldyne, “Evaluation of anasynchronous teleconsultation system for diagnosis of skin cancer andother skin diseases,” Telemedicine Journal and e-Health 6, no. 4 (2000),pages 379-384. Non-specialists such as most primary care physicians haveonly a 50% probability of identifying malignant skinlesions—functionally equivalent to flipping a coin. See, e.g., Ramsay DL, Fox A B, “The ability of primary care physicians to recognize thecommon dermatoses,” Arch Dermatol 117, (1981), pages 620-622; andCassileth B. R., Clark W. H. Jr., Lusk E. J., et al., “How well dophysicians recognize melanoma and other problem lesions?” J. Am. Acad.Dermatol. 14 (1986), pages 555-560.

The present disclosure identifies and appreciates that conventionalapproaches of screening for certain skin conditions are limited andinadequate, due to prohibitive costs of doing so effectively, and thatimproved accuracy screening technologies allowing automated screeningand/or screening by non-specialist medical caregivers, for skin featuresthat involve more than cosmetic skin alteration, would be beneficial forbetter advance detection of skin conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding thatthese drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example device configured togenerate echogram data and analyze the echogram data to determinepotential skin conditions;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a computing device as one exampleof the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example components of an echogramgenerator module;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating example configuration andinteraction of the echogram generator components illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a is a block diagram illustrating example components of anechogram processing module and interactions thereof; and

FIG. 6 is an example echogram comprising subwavelength reflectioncharacteristics;

FIG. 7 is an example echogram comprising subwavelength reflectioncharacteristics;

FIG. 8 is flow diagram illustrating an example method configured togenerate echogram data and analyze the echogram data to determinepotential skin conditions; all arranged in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and made part of this disclosure.

The present disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to methods,devices, and/or systems related to using acoustic pulses to diagnoseskin conditions. A series of acoustic pulses may be directed at a skinthrough the speaker of a device. Acoustic reflections may be received ata microphone. The reflections may be sampled and stored as echogramdata. The echogram may be analyzed to identify potential skinconditions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example device configured togenerate echogram data and analyze the echogram data to determinepotential skin conditions, arranged in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 comprises a computingdevice 200, network nodes 291 and 292, and a skin comprising a skinsurface 133, a skin layer 131, a skin layer 132, and a feature 134.Computing device 200 may comprise one or more of an echogram generator223, an acoustic transducer 121, a microphone 122, and an echogram datastore 226. Computing device 200 may further comprise one or more ofechogram processing 224, skin condition library 227, output devices 260,comparison data store 228, camera 140, image data store 229, and/orcommunication devices 280. Network node 291 may also comprise a skincondition library 227.

In FIG. 1, the echogram generator 223 may be coupled to the acoustictransducer 121 via bus 242 over which acoustic pulse signals 111 may betransmitted. Acoustic transducer 121 may be adapted to produce acousticpulses 115 that are directed at the skin. Acoustic pulses 115 mayreflect off the skin as acoustic reflections 116. Acoustic reflections116 may comprise reflections of similar wavelengths as the pulses 115,as well as subwavelength acoustic reflections corresponding toreflecting features, such as feature 134, which comprise at least onedimension smaller than a corresponding acoustic pulse wavelength fromthe series of acoustic pulses 115. Acoustic reflections 116 may bereceived at microphone 122. Microphone 122 may be coupled to theechogram generator 223 via bus 242, over which acoustic reflectionsignals 112 may be transmitted. Echogram generator 223 may be configuredto store echogram data 113 in echogram data store 226 via bus 230.

In FIG. 1, the echogram processing 224 may be configured to readechogram data 113 in the echogram data store 226 via bus 230. Echogramprocessing 224 may be adapted to extract characteristics of the echogramdata 113 for use in identifying a skin condition 114. Echogramprocessing 224 may also be arranged to extract characteristics of imagedata 118 from image data store 229 via bus 230. Camera 140 may beadapted to store image data 118 in image data store 229 via bus 242.Echogram processing 224 may also be configured to extractcharacteristics of comparison data 119 in comparison data store 228 viabus 230. Echogram processing 224 may be arranged to aggregate theextracted echogram characteristics, image characteristics, and/orcomparison characteristics as skin condition ID data 117, and echogramprocessing 224 may be adapted to use the skin condition ID data 117 tolook up a skin condition 114 in the skin condition library 227 via bus230. Echogram processing 224 may also be adapted to look up skincondition 114 by communicating skin condition ID data 117 withcommunications devices 280 via bus 242, causing the communicationdevices 280 to communicate skin condition ID data 117 with network nodes291 and 292, via network connections 180. Echogram processing 224 mayalso be arranged to output skin condition 114 to output devices 260 viabus 242.

Computing device 200 may be configured to generate echogram data 113corresponding to the skin, using the echogram generator 223, inconjunction with the acoustic transducer 121 and microphone 122.Computing device 200 may be further configured to use echogramprocessing 224 to identify a skin condition 114 based on the echogramdata 113 as well as any other available data. Echogram processing 224may also be arranged to use a variety of resources including one or moreof the skin condition library 227, the comparison data store 228, thenetwork nodes 291 and 292, and/or the image data store 229, to identifyone or more skin conditions 114.

Computing device 200 may be configured in any of a wide range ofconfigurations. In some embodiments, computing device 200 may comprise amobile device, such as a device comprising a mobile telephone. Theacoustic transducer 121 may comprise a speaker used for voicecommunications of the mobile telephone. The microphone 122 may comprisea microphone used for voice communications of the mobile telephone. Thecamera 140 may comprise a digital camera integrated into the mobiledevice. The network connections 180 may comprise wireless connections,such as cellular communications connections. An application configuredto execute on mobile device hardware may comprise echogram generator 223and echogram processing 224, and may use mobile device hardware tocreate and/or access one or more of a comparison data store 228, animage data store 229, output devices 260, communication devices 280, anacoustic transducer 121, and/or a microphone 122. An example computingdevice 200 is illustrated in further detail in FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, some aspects of the computing device 200 may beprovided by one or more special purpose attachments. Special purposeattachments may be couplable with the computing device 200 anddetachable from the computing device 200 such that the computing device200 remains operable for functions not including the attachments. Forexample, in order to produce high quality acoustic pulses over a widerange of frequencies, an attachment comprising a special purposetransducer 121, a microphone 122 and/or an echogram generator 223 may becoupled to the computing device 200.

In some embodiments, computing device 200 may be configured with anechogram User Interface (UI) allowing a user of the device 200 toprocure an echogram comprising echogram data 113, optionally take apicture of skin corresponding to the echogram to procure image data 118,and/or correlate the image data 118 with the echogram data 113, alongwith any comparison data 119 from previous echograms and/or images ofthe skin. The correlated data may then be sent as skin condition ID datato one or more of the network nodes 291 and 292 for diagnosis, or may bediagnosed at the device 200 using a skin condition library 227 locatedon the device 200.

Echogram generator 223 and acoustic transducer 121 may be configured toproduce a series of acoustic pulses 115. The echogram generator 223 mayproduce acoustic pulse signals 111 which are converted to acousticpulses 115 by the acoustic transducer 121. The series of acoustic pulsesmay for example comprise two or more acoustic pulses. Each acousticpulse in the series may comprise one or more frequencies. The one ormore frequencies of an acoustic pulse may be different from frequenciesof one or more other acoustic pulses in the series. By employing aseries of acoustic pulses 115 comprising a variety of frequencies, theechogram generator 223 may be able to obtain more data about the skinthat would otherwise be achievable using pulses of only one frequency.An example echogram generator 223 is illustrated in further detail inFIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Echogram generator 223 and acoustic transducer 121 may be configured toproduce any variety of frequencies, e.g., frequencies below the audiblerange, in the audible range, and/or above the audible range may be used.In some embodiments, frequencies may comprise at least one frequency inthe audible range. The audible range generally comprises frequenciesfrom about 20 Hertz to about 20,000 Hertz.

Echogram generator 223 and microphone 122 may be configured to receive,sample, and/or record acoustic reflections 116 as echogram data 113 inthe echogram data store 226. Acoustic reflections 116 received atmicrophone 122 may be converted into acoustic reflection signals 112 atthe microphone 122, and may be sampled and/or recorded by echogramgenerator 223 as echogram data 113 in the echogram data store 226.

The acoustic reflections 116 generally correspond to the acoustic pulses115, and may also comprise information about the skin surface 133 aswell as subsurface skin layers such as 131 and 132, and features such as134. Different materials reflect sound differently, and so properties ofthe skin surface 133, subsurface skin layers 131 and 132, and features134 may be detectable from echogram data 113 corresponding to theacoustic reflections. The echogram data 113 may be used by echogramprocessing 224 to analyze the skin as described herein.

Acoustic reflections 116 may comprise a variety of reflectedfrequencies. In general, higher frequency reflections may carryinformation about smaller-scale properties of the skin surface 133,subsurface layers 131, 132, and features such as 134, whilelower-frequency reflections may carry information about larger-scaleproperties of the skin surface 133, subsurface layers 131, 132, andfeatures such as 134. Higher frequency reflections have shorterwavelengths, because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportionalwith respect to one another. Echogram data 113 may comprise a range ofcharacteristics corresponding to a range of different acousticreflection wavelengths. Echogram data 113 may also comprisesubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics. Subwavelengthacoustic reflection characteristics are defined herein as acousticreflection characteristics corresponding to one or more reflectingfeatures (such as 134) comprising at least one dimension smaller than acorresponding acoustic pulse wavelength from the series of acousticpulses.

Certain subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics may correspondto Rayleigh scattering effects in the skin. Rayleigh scattering isscattering by subwavelength features, and therefore provides enhancedsensitivity to echogram detection of subwavelength features. Rayleighscattering may for example allow for detecting skin hardening and/orother subwavelength features, whether on or under a skin surface, usingpulses in or around the audible frequency range. Furthermore, Rayleighscattering can be relatively insensitive to angle of view, whichprovides for more robust field measurement of subwavelength features. Insome embodiments, a plurality of subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristics may be assembled to create a map of subwavelengthfeatures in the skin.

In some embodiments, the echogram generator 223 may be adapted tocorrelate information regarding the acoustic pulses 115 with informationfrom the acoustic reflections 116 to produce the echogram data 113. Forexample, acoustic reflections 116 may be correlated to frequencyinformation of the acoustic pulses 115.

Echogram generator 223 may be configured to calibrate processing ofechogram data 113 to account for error in producing acoustic pulses 121and receiving acoustic reflections 122. For example, where echogramgenerator 223 is configured as part of an application executable by amobile device, the echogram generator 223 may encounter a variety ofacoustic transducers 121 and/or microphones 122 on devices in the field.Some transducers and/or microphones may be not be capable of producingor receiving certain frequencies, or may produce or receive frequenciesinaccurately, or may produce certain frequencies in addition to thosedictated by the echogram generator 223. Accordingly, the echogramgenerator 223 may be adapted to produce one or more calibration pulses,and may then measure acoustic reflections to determine the capabilitiesof the device 200. A calibration pulse may comprise a pulse of one ormore predetermined calibration frequencies. The echogram generator 223may be configured to adapt subsequent acoustic pulses 115 as well asechogram data 113 to account for any error in pulse production andmeasurement, as determined from the calibration pulse.

In some embodiments, the echogram generator 223 may be configured todetermine the distance between the acoustic transducer 121 and/ormicrophone 122 and the skin surface 133. For example, echogram generator223 may be configured to calculate distance using a measured amplitudedifference between acoustic pulses 115 and corresponding acousticreflections 116, and an expected pulse attenuation rate. Echogramgenerator 223 may also be configured to measure time delay betweengenerating a pulse at the transducer 121 and receiving a pulse at themicrophone 122, and may calculate distance using the time delay and thespeed of sound (roughly 340 meters per second in air, at sea level).

Echogram processing 224 may be configured to use the echogram data 113in the echogram data store 226 to facilitate diagnosis of a skincondition. A variety of configuration options for the echogramprocessing 224 are disclosed. In one example, echogram processing 224may identify one or more characteristics of echogram data 113, and maylook up the characteristics in the skin condition library 227 todetermine or identify a skin condition 114 corresponding to the echogramdata 113. For example, echogram processing 224 may be configured toextract subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics of theechogram data 113, and compare the subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristics to a set of characteristics in the skin conditionlibrary 227 to identify matching characteristics in the skin conditionlibrary 227. When a matching characteristic is found, a skin condition114 corresponding to the matching subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristics in the skin condition library 227 may be identified tothe echogram processing 224. In various additional embodiments, othercharacteristics of the echogram data 113 may also be extracted and usedby echogram processing 224 to identify corresponding skin conditions.

Furthermore, echogram processing 224 may be configured to store echogramdata 113 and/or extracted characteristics as comparison data 119 in thecomparison data store 228, for subsequent use in future skin conditionidentification operations. Comparison data 119 may also comprise imagedata 118 and optionally identification information comprising, forexample, identifiers for the scanned subject (e.g. person's name), alocation of the scanned skin surface (e.g. right shoulder blade), and/ordate of the echogram.

In various additional embodiments, echogram processing 224 mayfurthermore be adapted to identify characteristics of image data 118and/or comparison data 119, and characteristics of image data 118 and/orcomparison data 119 may also be used in looking up skin conditions inthe skin condition library 227. Echogram processing 224 may output anidentified skin condition 114 to output devices 260, e.g., echogramprocessing 224 may output an identification of a skin condition 114 to adisplay.

In some embodiments, echogram processing 224 may be adapted to look upskin conditions in a skin condition library 227 on the network node 291.Echogram characteristics, image characteristics, and characteristics ofcomparison data 119 may be provided to the network node 291 as skincondition ID data 117. Network node 291 may be configured to compare theskin condition ID data 117 to data stored in the skin condition library227 as described above. Network node 291 may be configured to return oneor more identified skin conditions 114 to the computing device 200.

In some embodiments, echogram processing 224 may be configured toelectronically communicate skin condition ID data 117 to a medicalservice provider network node 292 for further analysis. Dermatologistsor other trained professionals may be available for analysis of the skincondition ID data 117. Skin condition ID data 117 may for example beprovided to medical service provider network node 292 in the form of anemail to a medical service provider. The medical service provider maythen analyze the skin condition ID data 117 and communicate any findingswith the patient using any appropriate communications channel.

In some embodiments, echogram processing 224 may be configured to securedata stored on the device 200 as well as any data communicated outsidethe device 200 to protect the privacy of skin health data. For example,echogram processing 224 may be configured to use encryption to protectechogram data store 226, image data store 229, comparison data store228, and/or any other data stored on the device 200. Data may beencrypted using a password supplied by a user of the device 200.Echogram processing 224 may furthermore be adapted to encrypt any datasent to network nodes 291 and 292.

In some embodiments, the methods, devices, and/or systems related todetecting skin conditions described herein may be combined with any ofthe technologies described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/714,011, filed Feb. 26, 2010, entitled “MULTIDIRECTIONAL SCAN ANDALGORITHMIC SKIN HEALTH ANALYSIS”, attorney docket number MTCW001601.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing device 200 as one example ofthe device illustrated in FIG. 1, arranged in accordance with at leastsome embodiments of the present disclosure. In a very basicconfiguration 201, computing device 200 may include one or moreprocessors 210 and system memory 220. A memory bus 230 may be used forcommunicating between the processor 210 and the system memory 220.

Depending on the desired configuration, processor 210 may be of any typeincluding but not limited to a microprocessor (μP), a microcontroller(μC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof.Processor 210 may include one or more levels of caching, such as a levelone cache 211 and a level two cache 212, a processor core 213, andregisters 214. The processor core 213 may include an arithmetic logicunit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signal processingcore (DSP Core), or any combination thereof. A memory controller 215 mayalso be used with the processor 210, or in some implementations thememory controller 215 may be an internal part of the processor 210.

Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 220 may be ofany type including but not limited to volatile memory (such as RAM),non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), or anycombination thereof. System memory 220 typically includes an operatingsystem 221, one or more applications 222, and program data 225.Applications 223-224 may include, for example, echogram generatormodule(s) 223 and echogram processing module(s) 224. Program data226-227 may include echogram data store 226, skin condition library 227,comparison data store 228, and image data store 229 that may be used byapplications 223-224.

Computing device 200 may have additional features or functionality, andadditional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basicconfiguration 201 and any required devices and interfaces. For example,a bus/interface controller 240 may be used to facilitate communicationsbetween the basic configuration 201 and one or more data storage devices250 via a storage interface bus 241. The data storage devices 250 may beremovable storage devices 251, non-removable storage devices 252, or acombination thereof. Examples of removable storage and non-removablestorage devices include magnetic disk devices such as flexible diskdrives and hard-disk drives (HDD), optical disk drives such as compactdisk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, solid statedrives (SSD), and tape drives, to name a few. Example computer storagemedia may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removablemedia implemented in any method or technology for storage ofinformation, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data.

System memory 220, removable storage 251, and non-removable storage 252are all examples of computer storage media. Computer storage mediaincludes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that maybe used to store the desired information and that may be accessed bycomputing device 200. Any such computer storage media may be part ofdevice 200.

Computing device 200 may also include an interface bus 242 forfacilitating communication from various interface devices (e.g., outputinterfaces, peripheral interfaces, and communication interfaces) to thebasic configuration 201 via the bus/interface controller 240. Exampleoutput devices 260 include a graphics processing unit 261 and an audioprocessing unit 262, which may be configured to communicate to variousexternal devices such as a display, acoustic transducer 121 andmicrophone 122 via one or more A/V ports 263. Example peripheralinterfaces 270 may include a serial interface controller 271 or aparallel interface controller 272, which may be configured tocommunicate through either wired or wireless connections with externaldevices such as input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice inputdevice, touch input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g.,printer, scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 273. Otherconventional I/O devices may be connected as well such as a mouse,keyboard, and so forth. An example communications device 280 includes anetwork controller 281, which may be arranged to facilitatecommunications with one or more other computing devices 290 such as maycomprise network nodes 291 and 292 illustrated in FIG. 1, over a networkcommunication via one or more communication ports 282.

The computer storage media may be one example of a communication media.Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in amodulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transportmechanism, and include any information delivery media. A “modulated datasignal” may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics setor changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. Byway of example, and not limitation, communication media may includewired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, andwireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR),and other wireless media.

Computing device 200 may be implemented as a portion of a small-formfactor portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a cell phone, apersonal data assistant (PDA), a personal media player device, awireless web-watch device, a personal headset device, anapplication-specific device, or a hybrid device that include any of theabove functions. Computing device 200 may also be implemented as apersonal computer including both laptop computer and non-laptop computerconfigurations.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example components of an echogramgenerator module, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsof the present disclosure. Echogram generator module 223 may comprisespulse generator 301, reflection sampler 302, echogram production 303,and device calibration 304.

The pulse generator 301 may be configured to generate acoustic pulses115, where a series of acoustic pulses may be produced in rapidsuccession. For example, in some embodiments, a series of around 40pulses may be produced, each pulse of about 0.01 seconds in length. Eachpulse may comprise one or more frequencies that may be directed at askin surface for the purpose of measuring acoustic reflections 116 fromthe skin, to produce echogram data 113.

In some embodiments, a pulse may comprise a chirp. A chirp is a signalin which the frequency may increase (‘up-chirp’) or decrease(‘down-chirp’) with time. A chirp may for example be linear,exponential, or according to any other desired trajectory as will beappreciated. An acoustic pulse may be a chirp comprising a startfrequency and an end frequency that is different from the startfrequency. For example, chirp start frequencies may range from about 4kilo-Hertz (kHz) to about 12 kHz. Chirp end frequencies may be about 500Hz higher than the start frequency. This disclosure is not limited tothese example values.

In some embodiments, a pulse may be generated according to a windowfunction. A window function is a function that is zero-valued outside ofsome chosen interval. Window functions may produce rectangular windows,Hamming windows, Hann windows, Cosine windows, Gauss windows, and avariety of other window types.

The reflection sampler 302 may be configured to sample and recordacoustic reflection signals 112 produced by microphone 122 in responseto received acoustic reflections 116. Echogram production 303 may beconfigured to correlate the acoustic reflection samples produced by thereflection sampler 302 with acoustic pulse data, such as data regardingfrequencies of the acoustic pulses 115. Device calibration 304 may beconfigured to provide calibration frequencies for use by the pulsegenerator 301, and may subsequently provide device-specific frequencyranges to the pulse generator 301 as well as calibration error data tothe echogram production 303, for use in adjusting echogram data.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating example configuration andinteraction of the echogram generator components illustrated in FIG. 3,arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates the components of FIG. 3, including thepulse generator 301, reflection sampler 302, echogram production 303,and device calibration 304, and FIG. 4 also illustrates an acoustictransducer 121 and a microphone 122. The pulse generator 301 maycomprise an adjustable frequency generator 401, a chirp module 402, awindow module 403, and a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module 405. Thereflection sampler 302 may comprise an FFT module 406.

The pulse generator 301 may comprise an adjustable frequency generator401, a chirp module 402, a window module 403, and a Fast FourierTransform (FFT) module 405. The frequency generator 401 may be effectiveto provide frequency data 411 to the chirp module. Frequency data 411may for example specify one or more chirp start frequencies and/or chirpend frequencies. Chirp module 402 may be effective to produce a chirpsignal 412 to the window module 403. The window module 403 may beeffective to window the chirp signal according to a window function, andmay output a windowed chirp as an acoustic pulse signal 111 to theacoustic transducer. The acoustic pulse signal 111 may also be providedto the FFT module, which may be effective to perform an FFT on theacoustic pulse signal 111 and output acoustic pulse data 413 to theechogram production module 303.

The reflection sampler 302 may comprise an FFT module 406, which isadapted to receive acoustic reflection signals 112 from the microphone122, and output acoustic reflection data 414 to the echogram productionmodule 303. The echogram production module 303 may be configured toproduce echogram data using the acoustic pulse data 413 and thecorresponding acoustic reflection data 414.

An arrangement such as FIG. 4 may be calibrated using a devicecalibrator 304. In some embodiments, the device calibrator 304 mayprovide calibration frequencies 416 to the pulse generator 301. Thepulse generator 301 may be configured to generate acoustic pulsesaccording to the calibration frequencies 416, and the echogramproduction module 303 may be configured to produce a calibrationechogram 415 corresponding to the calibration frequencies. The devicecalibrator 304 may be configured to use the calibration echogram 415 todetermine which frequencies a device is capable of producing, and anyerror 417 which may be used by the echogram production module 303 toimprove accuracy of echogram data produced by a particular device. Theavailable frequencies and the error 417 may be provided to pulsegenerator 301 and to echogram production module 303, to allow the pulsegenerator 301 and echogram production module 303 to dynamicallyreconfigure the outgoing pulses and/or echogram production processing toaccount for available frequencies and error 417.

FIG. 5 is a is a block diagram illustrating example components of anechogram processing module and interactions thereof, arranged inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.Echogram processing module 224 may comprise one or more of an echogramcharacteristics extraction module 501, a comparison module 502, an imagecharacteristics extraction module 503, and/or a skin conditionidentification module 520. Echogram processing module 224 may be adaptedto interact with one or more of an echogram data store 226, a comparisondata store 228 and/or an image data store 229. Echogram processingmodule 224 may also be adapted to interact with one or more ofcommunication devices 280, a skin condition library 227, and/or outputdevices 260.

Echogram characteristics extraction module 501 may be adapted tocommunicate echogram data 113 with echogram data store 226 via bus 230.Echogram characteristics extraction module 501 may also be adapted tocommunicate echogram characteristics data 511 with skin conditionidentification module 520 via bus 230. Comparison module 502 may beadapted to communicate comparison data 119 with comparison data store228 via bus 230. Comparison module 502 may also be adapted tocommunicate comparison data 512 with skin condition identificationmodule 520 via bus 230. Image characteristics extraction module 503 maybe adapted to communicate image data 118 with image data store 229 viabus 230. Image characteristics extraction module 503 may also be adaptedto communicate image characteristics data 513 with skin conditionidentification module 520 via bus 230.

Furthermore, skin condition identification module 520 may be adapted tocommunicate skin condition ID data 117 and skin condition 114 withcommunication devices 280 via bus 242. Skin condition identificationmodule 520 may also be adapted to communicate skin condition ID data 117and skin condition 114 with skin condition library 227 via bus 230. Skincondition identification module 520 may also be adapted to communicateskin condition 114 with output devices 260 via bus 242.

Echogram processing module 224 may be configured to facilitateidentification of one or more skin conditions using echogram data, alongwith a variety of other data which may be useful in identifying thevarious skin conditions. In some embodiments, echogram processing module224 may display echogram data 113 at output devices 260 and/or forwardechogram data 113 via communication devices 280 to a medical serviceprovider for analysis. Echogram processing module 224 may be configuredto provide UI to allow a user to correlate image data 118 showing animage of the skin, and/or comparison data 119 showing previous echogramsof the skin, for analysis in conjunction with the echogram data 113.

Echogram processing module 224 may also be configured to provideelectronic diagnosis functions, for example by extractingcharacteristics from the various applicable data and comparing theextracted characteristics to a skin condition library 227 to identify askin condition 114. In some embodiments, echogram characteristicsextraction module 501 may be configured to extract echogramcharacteristics data 511 from echogram data 113. Echogramcharacteristics data 511 may for example comprise reflection signaturesat one or more pulse frequencies and/or subwavelength characteristics. Avariety of echogram characteristics may over time become associated withidentifiable skin conditions, and this disclosure is not limited to anyparticular characteristics. In some embodiments, subwavelengthcharacteristics may be extracted as these characteristics may beadvantageous in identifying certain skin properties.

Comparison module 502 and image characteristics extraction 503 may beconfigured to extract comparison data 512 and image characteristics data513, and provide these data to the skin condition identification module520. Again, the extracted characteristics may be any data values and/orpatterns relevant to identifying a skin condition.

Skin condition identification module 520 may be configured to acquireany echogram characteristics data 511, comparison characteristics data512 and image characteristics data 513, and to use some or all of data511, 512, and 513 as skin condition ID data 117, to facilitatedetermination of a skin condition 114 by passing the skin condition IDdata 117 to the communication devices 280 and/or looking up a skincondition 114 corresponding to the skin condition ID data 117 in theskin condition library 227.

In some embodiments, the skin condition library 227 may not contain anexact match of the skin condition ID data. The skin conditionidentification module 520 may be configured to perform “fuzzy” orapproximate matching techniques to determine potentially applicable skinconditions. One example approach for approximate matching may comprisemeasuring a number of primitive operations necessary to convert datasets to identical data.

The skin condition library 227 may comprise a plurality skin conditionscorresponding to echogram characteristics 511 and/or comparison andimage characteristics 511 and 512. For example, the skin conditionlibrary 227 may comprise a plurality melanoma type skin conditions aswell as malignant nevi conditions, and cosmetic conditions such asscars, acne, moles and/or freckles. The skin condition processingmodule(s) 224 may be configured to retrieve any skin condition 114corresponding echogram characteristics in the library 227 that match theechogram characteristics 511 from echogram data 113.

In some embodiments, a skin condition 114 may be identified in any of avariety of forms. For example, in some embodiments a skin condition 114may comprise a medical risk associated with a skin condition 114. If anechogram characteristic 511 is identified as an X % melanoma risk (whereX is 0%-100%) the melanoma (or other condition) probability may beretrieved. Similarly, where a benign cosmetic blemish is identified,data identifying a skin condition as a cosmetic blemish and optionallysuggesting or providing cosmetic removal options may be provided.

In some embodiments, echogram processing 224 may be configured tofacilitate identification of skin conditions using alternate techniques.For example, instead of extracting echogram characteristics andcomparing the extracted characteristics to characteristics in a skincondition library 227, an echogram may be scanned for characteristicsidentified in a skin condition library 227 as corresponding to certainknown skin conditions.

FIG. 6 is an example echogram comprising subwavelength reflectioncharacteristics, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsof the present disclosure. FIG. 6 provides a visual representation ofechogram data 113 corresponding to an echogram of a chest. In FIG. 6,chirp start frequency is represented along the X-axis and sample numberis represented along the Y-axis, each sample being a slightly differentfrequency in the illustrated embodiment, due to the characteristics ofthe chirp. As may be appreciated, the echogram provides a variety ofcharacteristics which may indicate any of a wide variety of informationabout the reflecting surface. Example subwavelength reflectioncharacteristics 610 are indicated.

FIG. 7 is an example echogram comprising subwavelength reflectioncharacteristics, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsof the present disclosure. FIG. 7 provides a visual representation ofechogram data 113 corresponding to an echogram of a dog. In FIG. 7,chirp start frequency is represented along the X-axis and sample numberis represented along the Y-axis. Again, each sample is a slightlydifferent frequency in the illustrated embodiment, due to thecharacteristics of the chirp. As may be appreciated, the echogramprovides a variety of characteristics which may indicate any of a widevariety of information about the reflecting surface and/or subsurfacefeatures. Example subwavelength reflection characteristics 710 areindicated. Comparing the echogram of FIG. 7 to the echogram of FIG. 6,it is readily apparent that any of a variety of characteristics may beused to differentiate the skin of a human chest from the skin of a dogcomprising the condition of being covered with dog fur. A result similarto FIG. 7 may be obtainable for example with a hairy human skin sample.Further characteristics of the echograms may be used to further identifycharacteristics of the skins from the echogram data.

FIG. 8 is flow diagram illustrating an example method configured togenerate echogram data and analyze the echogram data to determinepotential skin conditions, arranged in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. The example flow diagram mayinclude one or more operations/modules, functions or actions asillustrated by blocks 810, 820 (comprising blocks 821 and 822), 830,840, and 850, which represent operations as may be performed in amethod, functional modules in a computing device 200, and/orinstructions as may be recorded on a computer readable medium 800. Theillustrated blocks 810, 820, 821, 822, 830, 840, and 850 may be arrangedto provide functional operations including one or more of “Calibrate” atblock 810, “Generate Echogram” at block 820, “Produce Pulse” at block821, “Receive, Sample, and Record Reflections” at block 822, “ExtractReflection Characteristics” at block 830, “Identify Skin Condition” atblock 840, and/or “Output Skin Condition” at block 850.

In FIG. 8, blocks 810, 820, 821, 822, 830, 840, and 850 are illustratedas being performed sequentially, with block 810 first and block 850last, with a repetitive loop comprising blocks 821 and 822. It will beappreciated however that these blocks may be re-ordered as convenient tosuit particular embodiments, and that these blocks or portions thereofmay be performed concurrently in some embodiments. It will also beappreciated that in some examples various blocks may be eliminated,divided into additional blocks, and/or combined with other blocks.

In block 810, “Calibrate”, computing device 200 may be configured toproduce one or more calibration pulses to calibrate a device fordetecting the skin condition. In some embodiments, a calibration pulsemay comprise a multi-frequency chirp configured to test the frequenciesthat may be used for subsequently generating an echogram. Acousticreflections corresponding to the calibration pulse(s) may be receivedvia a microphone and a calibration echogram may be produced. Thecalibration echogram may be analyzed to determine frequencies in thecalibration pulse that were successfully produced and received,frequencies in the calibration pulse that were not successfullyreproduced and received, and/or any error in producing and receivingcalibration pulse frequencies.

For example, if a calibration pulse includes a 15 kHz frequency, and the15 kHz frequency appears in the echogram as expected, then the 15 kHzfrequency may be determined to be a frequency that may be successfullyproduced and received. If a calibration pulse includes a 15 kHzfrequency, and the 15 kHz frequency does not appear in the echogram asexpected, then the 15 kHz frequency may be determined to be a frequencythat cannot be successfully produced and received. In response to adetermination that a frequency (such as 15 kHz) does not appear asexpected, in some embodiments a device calibrator 304 may be configuredto test whether compensation is possible, for example by modifying theunavailable frequency. For example, a device calibrator 304 may beconfigured to increase the 15 kHz component and try again to produce thereflection. If a calibration pulse includes frequencies from 15 kHz to30 kHz, but the echogram instead shows frequencies from about 15.5 kHzto about 30.5 kHz, then it may be determined from the echogram data thatthere is a 0.5 kHz error in producing the and receiving calibrationpulse frequencies.

Block 810 may be configured to adjust echogram generation based oninformation determined using the calibration pulse. For example, in someembodiments the acoustic pulse frequencies may be adjusted to accountfor any error, or to avoid frequencies that are unavailable. In someembodiments, data corresponding to sampled acoustic reflections may beadjusted to improve accuracy based on information gathered in block 810.Block 810 may be followed by block 820.

In block 820, “Generate Echogram”, echogram data may be generated forexample using an echogram generator 223, acoustic transducer 121, andmicrophone 122 as discussed herein. Block 820 may comprise a “ProducePulse” block 821, which may be configured to produce (e.g., transmit) aseries of acoustic pulses, and a “Receive, Sample, and RecordReflections” block 822, which may be configured to receive acousticreflections corresponding to the acoustic pulses, sample receivedacoustic reflections, and record samples as echogram data. In someembodiments, blocks 821 and 822 may be configured in a repeating loop,as shown, whereby a pulse may be transmitted, followed by receiving,sampling, and recording the reflections that result from the transmittedpulse, followed by another pulse and so on until processing of acousticpulses of all desired frequencies is completed. The series of acousticpulses may be directed at a skin surface. In some embodiments, theseries may comprise a plurality of frequencies and at least onefrequency in the audible range. Block 820 may be followed by block 830.

In block 830, “Extract Reflection Characteristics”, reflectioncharacteristics of the echogram may be extracted, for example by anechogram processing module 224 as discussed herein, for use inidentifying a skin condition. In some embodiments, subwavelengthacoustic reflection characteristics may be extracted, wherein thesubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics correspond to one ormore reflecting features comprising at least one dimension smaller thana corresponding acoustic pulse wavelength from the series of acousticpulses. However, any reflection characteristics may be identified asuseful in identifying skin conditions, and this disclosure is notlimited to any characteristics in particular.

In some embodiments, characteristics may also be extracted from imagedata corresponding to the skin involved in the echogram, as maycomparison characteristics from previous echograms of the skin. Imagedata characteristics and comparison characteristics may be used alongwith reflection characteristics in block 840. Furthermore, extractedreflection characteristics may be stored as comparison data for futureskin condition identification procedures. Block 830 may be followed byblock 840.

In block 840, “Identify Skin Condition”, a skin condition correspondingto reflection characteristics extracted in block 830 may be identified,for example by an echogram processing module 224 as discussed herein. Insome embodiments, block 840 may comprise electronically identifying askin condition by comparing extracted subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristics to a skin condition library that correlatessubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics with skin conditions.

In some embodiments, block 840 may comprise electronically sending skincondition ID data 117 to a medical provider for further analysis.Therefore, a positive identification of a skin condition need not becompleted in all embodiments of block 840. Some embodiments may compriseinitiating or otherwise facilitating identification, which may becompleted at a later time and optionally by a dermatologist or otherskin care professional. Block 840 may be followed by block 850.

In block 850, “Output Skin Condition”, an identification of a skincondition may be output to an output device. For example, anidentification of a skin condition may be output by an echogramprocessing module 224 to a display. In some embodiments, block 850 maybe omitted, for example where block 840 comprises initiating skincondition identification by sending echogram data to a medical serviceprovider, rather than electronically identifying a skin condition at thedevice. In some embodiments, the skin condition may comprise a risk ofcertain skin conditions, and optionally additional information such astreatment options and contact information for dermatologists or otherprofessionals available to consult regarding the skin condition.

There is little distinction left between hardware and softwareimplementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or softwareis generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choicebetween hardware and software may become significant) a design choicerepresenting cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. There are various vehiclesby which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies describedherein may be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), andthat the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which theprocesses and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. Forexample, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy areparamount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmwarevehicle; if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, theimplementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/orfirmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples may be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, may be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein,and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such describeddevices and/or processes into data processing systems. That is, at leasta portion of the devices and/or processes described herein may beintegrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount ofexperimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that atypical data processing system generally includes one or more of asystem unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatileand non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one ormore interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and/or controlsystems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback forsensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/oradjusting components and/or quantities). A typical data processingsystem may be implemented utilizing any suitable commercially availablecomponents, such as those typically found in datacomputing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems.The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely examples, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two componentsso associated may also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewedas being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically connectable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art may translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

While certain example techniques have been described and shown hereinusing various methods, devices and systems, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made,and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimedsubject matter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter withoutdeparting from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it isintended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particularexamples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter also mayinclude all implementations falling within the scope of the appendedclaims, and equivalents thereof.

1. A method for detecting one or more skin conditions associated with askin of a subject, the method comprising: generating echogram data,comprising: transmitting a series of acoustic pulses, wherein the seriesof acoustic pulses are directed at a surface of the skin, and whereinthe series of acoustic pulses comprises a plurality of frequencies withat least one frequency being in the audible range; receiving acousticreflections corresponding to the acoustic pulses; sampling the receivedacoustic reflections to generate samples; and recording the samples asechogram data; extracting a subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristic of the echogram data, wherein the subwavelength acousticreflection characteristic corresponds to a reflecting feature comprisingat least one dimension smaller than a corresponding acoustic pulsewavelength from the series of acoustic pulses; and identifying the oneor more skin conditions that correspond to the extracted subwavelengthacoustic reflection characteristic.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinidentifying a skin condition comprises comparing the extractedsub-wavelength acoustic reflection characteristic to a library ofsubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics and corresponding skinconditions.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein comparing an extractedsubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristic to the library ofsubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics comprises sending anextracted subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristic to a networknode configured to perform the comparing.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein the library of subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristicsand corresponding skin conditions comprise one or more subwavelengthacoustic reflection characteristics associated with melanoma skinconditions.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the series ofacoustic pulses is a Hanning windowed chirp comprising a start frequencyand an end frequency different from the start frequency.
 6. The methodof claim 1, further comprising electronically communicating echogramdata to a medical service provider for further analysis.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein extracting subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristics of the echogram data comprises extractingcharacteristics corresponding to Rayleigh scattering in the skin.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising producing a calibration pulse tocalibrate a device for detecting the skin condition.
 9. A mobile deviceconfigured to detect one or more skin conditions associated with a skinof a subject, the mobile device comprising: an acoustic transducer; amicrophone; and a processor arranged in cooperation with the transducerand microphone, wherein the processor is configured to: transmit aseries of acoustic pulses with the transducer, wherein the series ofacoustic pulses are directable at a surface of the skin, and wherein theseries comprises a plurality of frequencies with at least one frequencyin the audible range; sample acoustic reflections received with themicrophone; record the sampled acoustic reflections as echogram data;extract one or more subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics ofthe echogram data; and identify a skin condition corresponding to one ormore of the extracted subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics,wherein the subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics correspondto a reflecting feature comprising at least one dimension smaller than acorresponding acoustic pulse wavelength from the series of acousticpulses.
 10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the processor isconfigured to compare the extracted subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristic to a library of subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristics and corresponding skin conditions to identify the skincondition.
 11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the processor isconfigured to send the extracted subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristic to a network node configured to perform the comparison.12. The mobile device of claim 10, the library of subwavelength acousticreflection characteristics and corresponding skin conditions comprisesone or more subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristicscorresponding to one or more melanoma skin conditions.
 13. The mobiledevice of claim 9, wherein the series of acoustic pulses comprisesHanning windowed chirps, each chirp comprising a start frequency and anend frequency different from the start frequency.
 14. The mobile deviceof claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured toelectronically communicate echogram data to a medical service providerfor further analysis.
 15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein theprocessor is configured to extract characteristics corresponding toRayleigh scattering in the skin.
 16. The mobile device of claim 9,wherein the processor is further configured to produce a calibrationpulse with the transducer and measure acoustic reflections received atthe microphone to calibrate the mobile device for detecting the one ormore skin conditions.
 17. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein theacoustic transducer and microphone are integrated in the mobile deviceand are configured for voice communications.
 18. A computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions, executable by a mobiledevice to detect one or more skin condition associated with a skin of asubject, the instructions for the mobile device comprising: instructionsto transmit a series of acoustic pulses, wherein the series of acousticpulses are directable at a surface of the skin, and wherein the seriescomprises a plurality of frequencies and at least one frequency in theaudible range; instructions to sample received acoustic reflectionsassociated with the series of acoustic pulses; instructions to recordsamples of the received acoustic reflections as echogram data;instructions to extract a subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristic of the echogram data, wherein the subwavelength acousticreflection characteristic corresponds to a reflecting feature comprisingat least one dimension smaller than a corresponding acoustic pulsewavelength from the series of acoustic pulses; and instructions toidentify the one or more skin conditions corresponding to an extractedsubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristic.
 19. The computerreadable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions to identify theskin condition comprise instructions to compare the extractedsubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristic to a library ofsubwavelength acoustic reflection characteristics and corresponding skinconditions.
 20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein theinstructions to compare the extracted subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristic to a library of subwavelength acoustic reflectioncharacteristics and corresponding skin conditions comprise instructionsto send the extracted subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristicto a network node configured to perform the comparison.
 21. The computerreadable medium of claim 18, wherein the library of subwavelengthacoustic reflection characteristics and corresponding skin conditionscomprises one or more subwavelength acoustic reflection characteristicscorresponding to one or more melanoma skin conditions.
 22. The computerreadable medium of claim 18, wherein the series of acoustic pulsescomprises Hanning windowed chirps, each chirp comprising a startfrequency and an end frequency different from the start frequency. 23.The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprisinginstructions to electronically communicate echogram data to a medicalservice provider for further analysis.
 24. The computer readable mediumof claim 18, wherein the instructions extracting subwavelength acousticreflection characteristics of the echogram data comprise instructions toextract characteristics corresponding to Rayleigh scattering in theskin.
 25. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprisinginstructions to produce a calibration pulse to calibrate the mobiledevice for detecting one or more skin conditions.